

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are ether carboxylate builder compositions comprising a combination of tartrate monosuccinic acid (or salts thereof) and tartrate disuccinic acid (or salts thereof). Such mixtures can be prepared by reacting water-soluble, mixed maleic acid salts with mixed tartaric acid salts. Both components of the resulting ether carboxylate mixture act as sequestering agents and are useful as detergency builders. Detergent and laundry additive compositions incorporating these ether carboxylates can be pre­pared without use of detergent builder components containing phosphorus or nitrogen.



